Welwyn and Ayot St Peter: 13 July 08 Trinity 8: Colin Hull
Text: Isa 55: 10-13
Hope because of God’s Word.

Introduction

Here is some recent news...

Some people from Zimbabwe left their country to escape the political and economic chaos but while in a South African refugee camp were beaten up by some locals who objected to their presence. Each day the TV and newspapers brings more troubles into our homes; Continued conflict in Iraq and Afganistan with the deaths mentioned often. Violent crime on our city streets in which young people are killed. And even our own church is in the news for the wrong reasons; arguments over homosexual clergy and women bishops. More argument than signs of love and the gospel of peace.

It is enough to make caring people weep! What is going on Lord? Where are the signs of your Kingdom and your salvation?


Beside the Tigris river...

Well, jump into the TARDIS and come back with me to 545 BC. On the banks of the Tigris River an unknown prophet preaches in the footsteps of Isaiah. We know little about him but much modern scholarship attributes chapters 40-55 on the book of Isaiah to him. Scholars call him Second Isaiah or Deutero-Isaiah.

He preaches to Jews exiled from their home. He speaks about their past, their present vocation and their future. That they are not forgotten and God still has plans for them. He preaches about the Servant who suffers humiliation and death for the sake of our sins. Some have longed for home. Some are comfortable with their foreign place. But to each the prophet presents stirring messages of new things God will do for them and their nation.When Cyrus the King of Persia defeats the Babylonians in battle in 545 the prophet sees Cyrus as God’s appointed agent who will usher in a new Exodus back to Israel and to begin again and how even the Gentiles will come for find God through them.

The passage we had read to us this morning is part of his final words. At the beginning of the chapter the prophet had recalled the people to see God as their living water, like a water seller calling in the market place to come and drink and eat good things, the very best. Not to waste their time on junk food that would not satisfy their real needs. Rather, to come to the God who knew them and their needs. God does not act and think as they do, He is so much greater. Then comes the passage that we heard today. In the same way that snow and rain water the earth and make it fruitful so God’s word is fruitful.

“So is my Word that goes out from my mouth.
It will not return to me empty
But will achieve what I desire
And achieve the purpose for which I sent it”

The word is both his spoken word sent through his prophets and his hidden word that only the courts of heaven may hear. What the prophet had spoken of from God is life giving and would come to pass. Things of the world may come and go but God’s will, spoken in His word would always endure and can be relied upon. God’s word that the prophet had revealed would come to pass.

There would be a new beginning and it would be like a new and fruitful growth; pine trees instead of thorn bushes, Myrtle trees instead of briars, and the rest of creation would rejoice in this new beginning. We have some rousing words that have been turned into a joyful modern hymn;

“You shall go out with joy
And be led forth with peace
And the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you
There’ll shouts of joy
And the trees of the field shall clap their hands”

It is a poetic picture in which even nature shares in the redeeming of Israel in their new future return home. Mighty hills break up into stones in astonishment and the trees wave their branches together and clap in celebration.


Partly fulfilled and further hope for the future

Historically of course the prophecy was partly fulfilled. Cyrus the Great ended the Babylonian empire and in a policy of tolerance to minorities allowed the Jews to return to Israel if they wanted to. He allowed them to rebuild their temple. It was a time of rejoicing even if the trees did not quite clap their branches together.

It was not quite perfect when they got back. But the inspiration of the prophet’s words has remained pointers to further hopes; the God who rescued the slaves in Egypt and the God who released them from exile speaks in new situations and can bring joy out of sorrow, can bring new beginnings. There will be other times of rejoicing after pain and hurt because of who God is and his love for broken and oppressed humanity.

The God we know is the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bound together in the unity of Love, with passionate right and justice. It is this love and rightness that they pour out into creation and will not let injustice or wrong stand forever. There is continued hope for crushed and ruined creation because God is faithful to His own word and promise. The prophet had spoken of redemption and release for people and nations. He had spoken of renewal of God’s creation and what God has spoken before will happen again in new ways.

A few weeks ago Alan was speaking about the differences between people who tend to optimistic and those who tend to be pessimistic. The Hope of God’s promises is better than the pessimism about the failures of the world and our lives. It’s not a matter of trying to cheer up the pessimist who always sees to things rather depressingly and does not expect anything to change. The hope of God’s word revealed in His prophets and is Christ is even better than any person’s wildest optimism. The hope of the gospel, fulfilling God’s word and revelation is not just a matter of some people being able to see bad things in a new optimistic light, or hoping that things might sometime get better. We have Hope in the future because of who God is and what He has revealed and shown us. He will do as He has done before in new situations and in new ways. His Word has declared Peace and Justice and Love for the world. The His Word has declared love of those who come to Him seeking His living water and life.

We often see the world in a very narrow way, the immediate events that trouble us or the world. We need to see things in the eternal perspective of our Lord and in the light of His revelation and promises.


Hope for the nations

When it comes to situations like Zimbabwe we should remember the struggles for democracy that have taken place over many years in many different counties. It is the record of history that every tyranny that has ever existed has been overthrown. God has revealed His Love and Justice in His word. Because of God’s faithfulness and justice, beyond the scenes of pain there will be change. We can have hope for Zimbabwe, Iraq and Afganistan, China, Burma and many others because of who God is and His word that has been revealed. And if we pray and campaign for better futures for these nations it is part of God’s own faithfulness that joins the protest and prayer that we make.


Hope for the church

Beyond the arguments afflicting the church there should also be the recognition that God has continued to use His fragmented and factional church, from many traditions over the centuries. Despite doctrinal upheavals people of different spiritual backgrounds have been all used by the Holy Spirit in the past to reform and evangelise the world. God’s Word has been used and misused in many different ways but the Holy Spirit still delights to use fallible, imperfect people, sinners even, to accomplish His purposes. God is faithful to His promise to be in the lives of those that love Him, who ever they are.

While it is extremely upsetting that the church is fragmented we must continue to hope and see that God’s Word will continue in the lives of His many members. I am certain that God will continue to use Liberals, Catholics, Evangelicals, Charismatics, Orthodox and others in their many places of worship and living. Each in their own way, despite their failures and sins, with their convictions and different interpretations of scripture, they will forward the work of Christ where they are.

It remains a great shame and sadness that many Christians from different traditions can’t talk to each other and recognise His work in each other. But we may still also hope that He whose character is Love will overcome our divisions and continue to act through each and very person.


Hope in our homes and lives

And when it comes to our own bad and sad situations with family, finances and health, we can also hope in the character of God as our Lover and Friend who will redeem and make good all that hurts us. Our problems may not disappear but Christ we know will share it all, and take it all on Himself, as He always does and brings new life for us. There is new life beyond the hurt and sorrow. In all these things we have every reason to trust in the faithfulness of His word and revelation to us. There will be new beginnings out of the present struggle.


Conclusion

Because God the Eternal Trinity is Faithful, that is our hope.

His word is hope for the nations
His word is hope for the church
His word is hope for all who struggle and sorrow.

Hear again some words from Second-Isaiah and take them for yourself this day

“My word that goes out of my mouth will not return to me empty...”

“You shall go out with joy!”

AMEN!